The Astonishing - favorite vocal lines / moments

[MirrorMask]

We're discussing NOMACS tracks, Rudess' parts, whole songs, let's take a look also at the vocal lines!

Which are your favorite ones from the new album? going quickly through the lyrics I'd say:

THE ANSWER:
"Is this the chance to be someone?
My moment in the sun?"

A BETTER LIFE:
"Evangeline, you lived a life of misery and pain
Evangeline, I’ll never let your memory die in vain"

WHEN YOUR TIME HAS COME:
The whole chorus, basically.

ACT OF FAYTHE:
"Living like a stranger"
(Yup, just that bit)

A TEMPTING OFFER:
"[Arhys]
How dare you step inside my home?!
[Daryus]
His life is in my hands!
[Arhys]
You monster, leave my son alone!
[Daryus]
You do know who I am"

[Evermind]

Alright, here are mine:

A BETTER LIFE:

As fearless leader of the Ravenskill militia
The blood of warriors flows throughout my veins
My brother’s gift remains my secret ammunition
It is our hope, our pride, a catalyst for change

For many years, I’ve seen our people starve and suffer
How many more will die before we stand and fight?
They ask me “Arhys, could things be any tougher?”
The answer’s no surprise, “Yes, you bet your life”

Simply amazing lines and the proper Arhys introduction for me. That's how I imagine him. JLB shines here.

LORD NAFARYUS:

Into the far off reaches of the land
To witness this great spectacle first-hand
Is Gabriel the God he claims to be?
I guess we’ll see...
Yes, we shall see.

Well that's Nafaryus at his best. While I love the madman laugh I think it's a bit over the top, but this part reflects how I imagine Nafaryus quite right.

WHEN YOUR TIME HAS COME:

When you’re facing the path that divides
Know that I will be there by your side
Find your strength in the sound of my voice
And you’ll know which choice is right

This is just so heartwarming and nice.

THREE DAYS:

Everything. This song is pure brilliance.

RAVENSKILL:

Morning breaks
Beyond the night
And she’s a world away
Through crowded streets
This quiet hooded stranger makes her way

The dreamlike atmosphere and the vocal delivery here are fantastic.

It’s not like that!
I can’t go back!
Hope fades away with each passing second!

It's interesting how JLB songs the best on this album when he's either gritty, pompous and arrogant as Nafaryus or when he's innocent, young yet determined and unyielding like Faythe. This is obviously the latter and he nails this part.

A NEW BEGINNING:

This man’s a fraud and hoax
He’ll only shatter your hopes
Saddest of all is to watch how you fall
For this person who you hardly know

Ah, well, Nafaryus at his best. I love those small nuances JLB adds on "is" and per-"son"  parts.

THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION:

He only sees what he desires to see
It took a while but finally he agreed
Though everything may not turn out as planned
If love’s a risk
It’s worth the chance

I love the dark mood and overall I just love these lines. They're perfect after an extended outro from the previous song.

I've just looked again at my post, and well, it's so clear Act 1 is my favourite. I mean, I remember some lines from Act 2 alright, but none of them are as great as the ones I've mentioned.

[thosava]

This:

THE ANSWER:
"Is this the chance to be someone?
My moment in the sun?"

And this:
"Into the far off reaches of the land
To witness this great spectacle first-hand
Is Gabriel the God he claims to be?
I guess we’ll see...
Yes, we shall see."

[V_R11]

Well, posting acts as separate messages because otherwise this would be too long 

The Answer:
"Am I not the man who I was meant to be?"

A Better Life:
"Freedom if we live or if we die"

"I shall give him a better life
I swore this vow to my dying wife
Sure, she would not survive
Peacefully she slipped away
The meaning in my life was born that day
And so I found the strength to carry on with this crusade
It is my fate"

A Savior in the Square:
"Don’t make him ask again
Do as my father says!"
 
Three Days:
“He’ll surrender on his own, if not, there’ll be hell to pay”

“Ravenskill shall burn”


Ravenskill:
“Hopeful and innocent, sensing no danger, he sees humanity behind the stranger’s eyes”

“You dare to stand before my eyes; you’re one of them, why would I trust you?”

A Tempting Offer:
[Arhys]
How dare you step inside my home?!

[Daryus]
His life is in my hands!

[Arhys]
You monster, leave my son alone!

[Daryus]
You do know who I am
Your love for him is strong

[Arhys]
He’s just a boy
He’s done no wrong
This fight’s not his to lose
I have everything you want

[Daryus]
Your next decision
Will decide his fate
So listen to the words I have to say

The X Aspect:
"Evangeline
I swore to you
To love and guide our son

Destiny
Has shown its face
And now the time has come"

A New Beginning
"Why would I ever concede
To listen to this fool
How can you be so naive?
You must be living in a world of make-believe
Do you really think this charlatan is who he claims to be?"

A Road to Revolution
"If love's a risk, it's worth a chance"

"Arhys’ time is running out
What will your decision be?
If you still have any doubt
Think about Evangeline"

[Nafaryus]
Change my mind
A waste of time
For soon he will be mine

[Ensemble]
Open eyes
Help me see which choice
Is right

[V_R11]

The Path That Divides:
"What have I done?
My blood for my son?
It’s not too late
I won’t betray him"

[Daryus]
You dare defy your prince?
Well you just threw your life away
Along with Xander’s dreams
You chose the wrong man to betray

[Narrator]
Two hungry warriors clash in the shadows of the night
But that’s the cost with every fight
And Arhys’ fight for hope
Cost him his very life

The Walking Shadow:
"What have you done?
(You murderer!)
My father is dead
(Your day will come!)"

"As his weapon
Finds its victim
Mortified, he’s shocked to find
The shadow is Faythe"

My Last Farewell:
"Angels above
Have you deceived my eyes?"

"Have I wandered into someone’s nightmare?"

Losing Faythe:
"Gabriel, my son
I see the tide is turning
Can the Chosen One
Keep her fire burning?"

Astonishing:
"And we’ll live once more
Eternally
In harmony
Our lives will be
Astonishing
Again"

[CDrice]

I already mentionned this one a few times

The Path That Divides
On the path that divides
You were there by my side
There will be no betrayal tonight

Moment of Betrayal
Meet me tonight where the stars touch the sky
He'll be alone there with nowhere to hide

and

Burning rose, secrets sold
Moment of Betrayal
Kiss of death, blood revenge
Moment of betrayal

A New Beginning
This man's a fraud and hoax
He'll only shatter your hopes
Saddest of all is to watch how you fall
For this person who you hardly know

And probably more than I can't think of rigth now.

Wait! I can't forget this one

Three Days
AHAHAH! AH AHAHahahahah! AHAHAH AHAHAAAAAH!

[RoadTrain_of Thought]

A Tempting Offer
Give up the Chosen One
And you will guarantee your son
Lives the life you never had

Wealth and prosperity
Beyond what you have ever seen
And best of all, Xander will be free

He'll never want again
It's such an easy choice
Just think about your son


The X Aspect
Desperation blinds me
And through these blood-stained eyes I see the light
A better life is worth this sacrifice


The Path That Divides
You dare defy the prince?
Well you just threw your life away
Along with Xander's dreams
You chose the wrong man to betray

Two hungry warriors clash in the shadows of the night
But that's the cost with every fight
And Arhys' fight for hope
Cost him his very life

[fischermasamune]

I really like the "You dare defy your prince" in The Path That Divides.

Among the unmentioned ones, I really like the two ones that mention angels. In the end of A Savior In The Square, when Gabriel sees Faythe, "An angel just appeared before my eyes" and in My Last Farewell "Angels above, have you deceived my eyes", the very start.

This album is pure win.

Edit: Can't forget the "Brace yourself, bow down to Nafaryus" in Three Days.

[RoeDent]

Some of my favourite vocal parts:

Lord Nafaryus:
Such a foolish young man
Doesn't seem to understand
Let me be perfectly clear

Such theatricality in JLB's voice at that passage.

The Walking Shadow:
As his weapon finds its victim...

The drama of this passage and the way the time signature changes to quicken the pace. Perfect tone painting.

The chorus of Moment of Betrayal, with its higher harmony part, remains a favourite even after hearing the rest of the album.

[MirrorMask]

Lord Nafaryus:
Such a foolish young man
Doesn't seem to understand
Let me be perfectly clear

Such theatricality in JLB's voice at that passage.

Ah, yeah, this passage is absolutely golden!

[pantsofeternity]

Ooh I've been waiting for this thread!  I have a bunch.  Part I:

The Gift of Music
MY BROTHER GABRIEL IS ALL THE HOPE WE NEED (ALL THE HOPE WE NEED)

A Better Life
EVANGELINE

Lord Nafaryus
[when JLB pulls out his long-dormant "The boy is just simply crazy!" accent from SDOIT for this character]

A Savior in the Square
PLEASE DON'T STOP ON MY ACCOUUUUUUUHHHHNNNNNT!

When Your Time Has Come
[the whole chorus]

Act of Faythe
MY MUUUUUUSIIIIIIC PLAAAAAYERRRR

Three Days
HA HA HA HA HA HA

Ravenskill
I REMEMBER YOUR FATHER WAS MOOOOOVED BY MY SONNNNNG

Chosen
THERE CAN BE NO OTHER WAY

A Tempting Offer
TIRED OF FIGHTING FOR MY FATHER'S PRIDE

The X Aspect
EVANGELINE

A New Beginning
Remember, Bug?
HOW MUSIC MAKES ME FEEL

The Road to Revolution
THINK ABOUT EVANGELINE

[pantsofeternity]

Part II:

Moment of Betrayal
MEET ME TONIGHT WHERE THE STARS TOUCH THE SKY

The Path That Divides
WHEN YOU'RE FACING THE PATH THAT DIVIDES... MMMYEAAAAH!

The Walking Shadow
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE??? YOU MURDERER!

My Last Farewell
GAAAAAAABRIEL, MYYYY SONNNNNNN

Hymn of a Thousand Voices
SHE LIVES... TODAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!

Astonishing
[THEY SAID IT THEY SAID THE TITLE]

[pringkaarwanda]

Three Days
HA HA HA HA HA HA

THIS 

[SebastianPratesi]

Both the verses and chorus of "When your time has come" move me every time I sing over them.

[Enigmachine]

Ooh I've been waiting for this thread!  I have a bunch.  Part I:

Three Days
HA HA HA HA HA HA

The Road to Revolution
THINK ABOUT EVANGELINE

Because of the ALL CAPS and lack of punctuation or any other emphasis, it looks like the the lines are quoting a robot and it made me laugh. 

[Gromit1710]

All of Lord Nefaryus's theatrical inflections. It's absolutely the most personality I've ever heard JLB impart into a vocal delivery. It's awesome. Reminds me so much of their version of "Tenement Funster/Lilly of the Valley" but so much more so.


Also,


THE ANSWER:
"Is this the chance to be someone?
My moment in the sun?
Why am I afraid of facing the unknown?"

That subtle use of his growl on "Afraid" gets me every time. THAT is how you use vocal dynamics perfectly.


The gift of music:

When the choir comes in on "My brother Gabriel" and JLB soars above it with those deliveries. 

[mikemangioy]

Heed my words, justice will be served. (*evil smile*)

[mikemangioy]

Also the freaking Chosen chorus is... god.

[SebastianPratesi]

Also (and I guess it's more of a 'musical' moment, but still) the end of "The Walking Shadow", when Daryus prepares to make his second attack, and James narrates the situation, gradually faster (every 6 eighth notes, then every 5, every 4, every 3, every 2).

[jsbru]

For me, peak of the entire Act I:

A Life Left Behind:


Tomorrow a new sun will rise,
And somehow I'll find you

Everything else is mediocre compared to this.

[The Astonished]

"I sing the song of freedom, my courage knows no bounds.
Brother, now I stand on solid ground.
Brother, I will never let you down.
Never LET YOU DOOOOWN!"

...by far. In my opinion. 

[Cyclopssss]

The whole 'Evangeline' section in A better life.

[Train of Naught]

"He sees humanity behind the strangest eyes" and "You dare to stand, before my eyes" in Ravenskill. This is quickly becoming an album favorite of mine, wow. I do think it's a bit too long though, not too fond of the first 2 minutes.

[fischermasamune]

This is quickly becoming an album favorite of mine, wow. I do think it's a bit too long though, not too fond of the first 2 minutes.

Descent of the NOMACS and the 49 first seconds of Dystopian Overture? I think they form a badass introduction to set the mood of the album. My wife said it remembers Star Wars.

[Progmetty]

"He sees humanity behind the strangest eyes"

That vocal melody is amazing and unfortunately it never repeats again anywhere.

[Logain Ablar]

"He sees humanity behind the strangest eyes"

Is it not "behind the stranger's eyes"? 

[Progmetty]

^ you're right.

[Ben_Jamin]

A Saviour in The Square: "Don't make him ask again, do as my father says."

Really great delivery